Grizzlies Insider: Teammates discuss Ja Morant’s unique passing ability
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots ahead of Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Memphis. (Brandon Dill/AP Photo file)
Ja Morant intercepted a pass Sunday afternoon against the Indiana Pacers before tossing it ahead to teammate Marcus Smart.
In transition, Smart fired the ball back to Morant, who, in just a couple of seconds, encapsulated the biggest development of his 2024-25 season so far.
Morant leapt from the floor, faked left as if he was going to pass to teammate Jake LaRavia; faked upward as if he might decide to shoot it; and then, at the last moment, brought the ball to his right, dropping a bounce pass to his initial target that resulted in a layup.
It was the type of play that perhaps only he could create, one with hang time so superb it was impossible for the defender to know where the ball could go.
“Morant is one of the unique players ever in the history of the game,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said before the game. “So you have to show (Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.) crowds.”
The challenge, however, is avoiding scenarios in which Morant can manipulate the bodies.
Through 21 regular-season games, Morant is leading the NBA in assist rate, and ranks top five in assists per game, despite playing close to 10 minutes fewer per game than the rest of the league leaders.
Among the league’s best passers, no one has done more with less than the Grizzlies star.
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Drew Hill
Drew Hill covers the Memphis Grizzlies and is a top-10 APSE winner. He has worked throughout the South writing about college athletics before landing in Memphis.
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